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Hon. Elrington Debunks “Southside Supercop” Theory
Fri, October 20, 2017
But that didn't go un-answered. Police minister Wilfred Elrington had a very broad and wide ranging response for him. He discarded the concept of Chester Williams as a Southside Supercop - and went into a very candid discussion of recent murders; he said it's killings due to the marijuana trade. Here are his remarks:...

Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Area Rep, Pickstock
"The killings, Madam Speaker, are taking place primarily in his constituency, in my constituency and Minister Boots' constituency and it is being conducted largely because there is minimal assistance, particularly in the member's constituency, for the poor people who live back there. They have very little direction. They are the people, it's from that constituency in particular, Madam Speaker, that the people who were caught burning tires come from, you know. These things are facilitated by people who should know better, who have a responsibility not to participate in these activities. And this is nothing that any super-cop can cure. The evidence is showing, Madam Speaker, and the nation needs to know it, that there's a new trend with respect to the marijuana trade. Marijuana is much more expensive. It is being imported into country and people are given amounts to sell. And when they don't account for the proceeds, the record is suggesting, that that is when these people are being executed and they are being executed by their own associates, their own friends. But the situation, Madam Speaker, is more than worrisome and it is one which we are trying our best to contend with and there are all kinds of factors that are at play but essentially the people that are dying, especially in Belize City- and it's a phenomenon that is in Belize City- are friends and associates of the underworld. They are killing each other because they are not accounting for the proceeds of sale. I cannot and will never come to grips that gangs are a normal part of our society and that we must have truce with gangs and that we must paliwaly with gangs. That's not my understanding at all. And if it is intended that I will continue that practice while I am Minister of Home Affairs, I will tell you, that is not going to happen under my watch. We will be meeting with every abled body Belizean to see how we can in fact help to end this scourge. So, it's a matter that is very close to our hearts. But so long as I am the Minister responsible for Home Affairs, I am not going to rest content with the knowledge that the country is being held hostage by a group of gangs. Like in football, like in basketball, like in any other game where you have a number of people, it's the team that matters not the individual. No super player is going to see you to victory, it is a super team. I think we have the makings of a super team in the Belize police force. The Commissioner is a very intelligent man, very articulate. I was very impressed with him, he has a different style from other police commissioners but as I am saying to you, when you look at the record, I guarantee you that his performance isn't any worse than any of the others."

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